Getting to the Backbone of Failure to Diagnose Scoliosis

Scoliosis is a debilitating disease that can cause serious disability. Unfortunately, the causes of the disease are not completely understood. Doctors commonly understand scoliosis as having four causes, and those causes are:

• Congenital scoliosis, for those who are born with the disease
• Neuromuscular scoliosis, caused by identifiable nerve or muscle problems
• Degenerative scoliosis, caused by trauma
• Idiopathic scoliosis, with no determinable cause

The number of scoliosis sufferers with idiopathic scoliosis continues to increase, with about two percent of the population diagnosed with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis while in their teens. Without known risk factors, patients are at a loss to determine the causes of their symptoms, and many doctors fail to properly diagnose scoliosis before it has begun to cause severe, long-term issues for the patient.

New research might have found a contributing factor for those who suffer from idiopathic scoliosis. The research indicates that there are genetic factors at play, particularly an issue with the gene that codes for a specific protein. There is hope that adolescents could be tested for this genetic abnormality and the disease could be discovered before it begins to do serious damage. Also, gene therapy could be a long-term solution if the underlying genetic cause is proven.

If you or your child suffers from scoliosis, and if a doctor’s failure to promptly diagnose the disease has led to severe side effects, please contact a qualified attorney. Considering how common this disease is, there is no excuse for physicians not discovering the condition as soon as it begins to manifest. An experienced attorney can help you hold the physician to account, and help you make sure the doctor makes prompt diagnoses in the future.